Hezbollah Commander Ibrahim Aqil Killed in Israeli Strike
Ibrahim Aqil, a high-ranking Hezbollah commander, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday. Aqil had a $7 million bounty on his head for his role in two deadly truck bombings in 1983 that targeted the American embassy and a U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut, killing over 300 people. These attacks have been attributed to Hezbollah’s early militant operations in Lebanon, placing Aqil at the center of the group’s violent history.
Death Confirmed During Hezbollah Meeting
Two Lebanese security sources confirmed that Aqil was killed during an airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs while attending a meeting of Hezbollah’s elite Radwan unit. Aqil, also known by the aliases Tahsin and Abdelqader, is the second senior member of Hezbollah’s Jihad Council to be killed in recent months. In July, a similar Israeli strike in the same area killed Fuad Shukr, another top Hezbollah commander.
Key Figure in Hezbollah’s Founding
Aqil was born in Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley around 1960. He initially joined the Amal Movement, another Shiite political faction, before becoming one of Hezbollah’s founding members in the early 1980s. Hezbollah, backed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, was created to resist Israeli occupation forces in Lebanon. Aqil quickly rose through the ranks to become a leading figure in the group’s military wing.
Accused of Deadly 1983 Bombings
The United States accused Aqil of involvement in the 1983 Beirut truck bombings, which targeted U.S. forces. The embassy bombing in April of that year killed 63 people, while a second attack at a U.S. Marine barracks in October killed 241 service members. Aqil was also alleged to have directed the abduction of American and German hostages in Lebanon during the 1980s. In 2019, the U.S. government designated him as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist and placed a $7 million bounty on his head.
Blow to Hezbollah’s Leadership
Aqil’s death follows the killing of Fuad Shukr in July, another senior Hezbollah military commander. Shukr’s assassination was seen as a significant blow to Hezbollah’s leadership structure, and Aqil’s death may further destabilize the group’s command. Aqil’s role in Hezbollah’s founding and his strategic importance placed him among the organization’s most valuable leaders. His bounty, set higher than Shukr’s, reflects his importance.
Ongoing Conflict with Israel
Israel has escalated its attacks on Hezbollah in response to increased border clashes, which were sparked by the conflict in Gaza that began on October 7. Hezbollah’s ally, Hamas, initiated the conflict with a deadly raid and hostage-taking in Israel. Since then, Israeli forces have intensified strikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, including the recent strike that killed Aqil.
Legacy of a Militant Leader
Aqil’s legacy within Hezbollah is one of strategic importance. As one of the group’s founding members, he helped shape Hezbollah into a formidable military and political force that drove Israeli forces out of southern Lebanon in 2000 and engaged in conflict with Israel again in 2006. His death, like Shukr’s, represents a significant loss to Hezbollah’s leadership, but it remains unclear how this will impact the group’s operations in the long term.